Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-07-23
-aAA1 49,
BOB BEN'S BONANZA.
Something no.tor Than Silver or Gold,

Something Bettor Than Silver or Gold,
Lead, Diamonds or Copper.
The great need IN this country IS water.
s'If had water" some one Is heard ire
queEtly to say, 81 could make o million"
The ar!eSian we'll craze Is on, and in many
localities parties are boring thousands OF
feet III the hope OF striking something that
will pay better than gold.
Bob Ben is n settler here who does not
say much, hut who keeps his eyes open
the greater part Of the time lie Is not
unduly ambitious, and Jet he aspires to
wealth. and it looks now as though lie had
reached the highway leilding thereto. UP
in the Socorro mountains is 'in old mine
shaft. abandoned long ago. Bob Ben
knew about it, us every other old timer
did. He has been in the haiiit Of visiting
il occasionally, rs most of his acQnnlit-
ances have also. s'You can't help suoop-
Ing around an old mine" Is veteran pros
pector said the other day. You MAY
know that somebody has cleaned up the
last ounce of ore, or that there never was
any there, but you're bound to feol us
though there might be some that hnd
been overlooked This WIS the spirit
that uctuated Bob Ben when no PAID iss
visits 10 the old Robinson shaft Ill the
Socorro range.
A few days ago the people in this region
were surprised TO hear that Bob had 10
Gated" the shaft and 1G0 acres OF land
living all around it, When he was asked
concerning the rumor he admitted the
truth, but would give no explanation OIL
his intentions.
.sWhat have you struck" he was asked.
ooh, nothing much, y lie would say.
'.SiNer?''
! .'8etter nor that. ~
'Golds" =
''Better yet.
ssLead, by thunder."
'tNo; not lead
'Well, then, diamonds and copper"
= eNo: You can't guess" Bob would say
as he walked OF. Tho next day the old
fellow had q cabin up, and announced his
intention of living on his claim aud going
Into the fruit and vegetable line. Every
body said he was crank, and one Trend
sent doctor out to see him, thinking he
nigh; be touched To this professional
gentleman Bob told his story:
"You see, mister, this here shaft has
had water i'll it for years. Everybody
knew that rs we'll as did. AT first l
used to cuss the water like the other Tel
lows did, because WANTED to go down the
shaft ana see if any metal had sprouted
there since the crowd left. After While
il occurred to ME that the water might
come from somewhere, and that, rs tho
country would be rich if it could get
water, perhaps I'd better look into the
thing little I found ut ono time that
the slaft had $50 feet Of water in it, and
that ut another it had only 100 feet Then
again it had $50 feet. The very bottom
of the shaft is higher than the country
ground about. So; thinks 1, if Gun tUn-
mel through to the bottom Of that shaft
I'll strike water bonanza, and did.
I've got it plugged here. I've let the
water out once or twice and It has filled
up again. All that this here land needs
is plenty OF water, and it will be as good
rs any in the country. Pm going to farm
Tor living, and some day, il the water
don't give out on me, I'll scG this place
for more than mine on the Comstock
would bring
The doctor and others who have visited
the place since agree that Bob Ben has a
bonanza, and it IS now matter Of Won
der that nobody ever thought Of this
scheme before.-Socorro O.. NJ Cor. New
York Sun.